Vehicle traveling assistance device

Abstract

The vehicle traveling assistance device sets a route in which the own vehicle enters in front of the preceding vehicle or the leading vehicle after overtaking the preceding vehicle or the leading vehicle when there is no other vehicle on the traveling route within a first distance ahead of the preceding vehicle or the leading vehicle of the vehicle when there is a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the own vehicle at a running speed equal to or lower than a predetermined speed or a convoy of a plurality of vehicles including the preceding vehicle on the traveling route of the own vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle traveling assistance device equipped with a control device that sets a travel route of an own vehicle, wherein the control device is configured to, when a preceding vehicle or a train of a plurality of vehicles including the preceding vehicle, traveling immediately ahead of the own vehicle at a traveling speed no greater than a predetermined speed, is present on a traveling route of the own vehicle, and further no other vehicle is traveling on the traveling route within a range of a first distance forward from the preceding vehicle or a leading vehicle of the train of a plurality of vehicles, set, as the travel route, a route in which, after overtaking the preceding vehicle or the leading vehicle, the own vehicle enters ahead of the preceding vehicle or the leading vehicle,
 wherein the control device is configured to, when the travel route is a route entering a branch lane branching from a travel lane in which the own vehicle is traveling and a distance between an entrance of the branch lane and the own vehicle becomes no greater than a predetermined entry distance, the preceding vehicle or the train of a plurality of vehicles is present on the travel route, and further no other vehicle is present on the travel route within the range of the first distance ahead of the preceding vehicle or the leading vehicle of the train of a plurality of vehicles, and a distance between the preceding vehicle or the leading vehicle and an end point of a connection portion of the branch lane and the travel lane is a second distance or more, set, as the travel route, a route in which, after overtaking the preceding vehicle or the leading vehicle, the own vehicle enters ahead of the preceding vehicle or the leading vehicle.